The Colour Yourself Free Cardi’

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This pattern is designed to showcase your handspun/scrap yarns. Have fun diving into your stash and mixing a variety of colours and textures to create something totally unique. The body and sleeves are a boxy oversized kimono style designed to be worn openly with no fastenings – perfect for layering up!

Your knitting journey begins as 3 simple rectangles knit flat in stockinette stitch giving you the option to go wild with colour and texture! These are then joined at the shoulders/sides with a mattress stitch to help soften the boxy edges. Stitches for the sleeves are then picked up and knit in the round in stripes. The entire neck/front edge ribbing is picked up and knit to bring the whole garment together and give it shape, especially useful for heavier handspun garments. There is the option to add patch pockets and bottom ribbing should you wish.

This is a highly customisable pattern including sizing/adjustment options as you go to suit your needs. The pattern features step-by-step instructions making it very beginner inclusive. Lots of tips and guidance are available to help you including diagrams to help you work the sleeves and an additional two page ‘Nitty Gritty’ sheet which includes spinning tips, advice on swatching and making a scrap version.

Sizes XS-2XL

M/L is shown on a size 10/12 model with a chest circumference of 90cm in both handspun yarns and commercial scraps. There is a lot of stretch to this knit, designed with approx 25cm positive ease.

Measurements

Dimensions of the back panel laid flat after blocking are approx:

XS: Width 51.5cm, Length 73cm
S/M: Width 57.5cm, Length 73cm
M/L: Width 63cm, Length: 74cm
L/XL: Width 68.5cm, Length: 74cm
2XL : Width 74cm, Length: 76cm

Measurements for sleeves included in pattern.

Yarn

Super chunky handspun yarn or a super chunky commercial yarn.
For scrap versions hold multiple strands to equal a super chunky yarn i.e 2 chunky, 3 Aran, 4 DK and so on.

Yardage

Approx 430m/700g (XS/M) 460m/750g (S/M) 515m/840g (M/L) 605m/990g (L/XL) 660m/1100g (2XL)

This is a rough starting point. The amount needed will vary based on your own yarn choices and may differ greatly if handspinning.

Gauge

7 stitches & 10 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4” x 4 “) in stockinette stitch.

The gauge in the handspun version varies a little due to the slightly inconsistent nature of handspun yarn.

Needles

-19 US / Size 15mm circular needles 16” and 24” for the sleeves/side panels and body.
-15 US / Size 10mm circular needles 16” and 36” for ribbing.

I have been advised that some of these cable sizes are difficult to obtain in the US, you can choose to use the longer cable options for the entire knit if comfortable with the magic loop method (this is what I did).

Other

Tapestry needle for seaming/weaving in ends.
Strong chunky yarn for seaming

– Locking stitch marker or scrap yarn.

Pattern Notes

Pattern is written with step by step instructions and lots of tips with the aim of making it suitable for a total beginner. Diagrams are included for help with picking up stitches for the sleeves and a 2 page Nitty Gritty sheet includes basic guidance on spinning yarns for this project and how to swatch, as well as knitting with commercial scraps.

Skills covered

Knitting Stockinette stitch both flat and in the round

Picking up and knitting stitches

Working a horizontal and vertical mattress stitch

Working a 1×1 twisted rib stitch (or alternative 1×1 rib) both flat and in the round

Changing colours.